Luke and Thomas parked the black Hummer in Light's garage. As they stepped inside, Luke sniffed the air.
"What's that smell?" Thomas grinned. "It can't be…" Together: "Breakfast."
They walked into the kitchen to find Albert in a cooking apron, preparing a feast waffles, bacon, scrambled eggs, toast, and coffee.
Luke sat down instantly. Thomas grabbed a waffle, took a bite, and started walking off. "Where you going?" Luke asked.
"Nap time," Thomas replied. "More for me," Luke said, already halfway through his plate.
Albert smiled. "Dig in while it's hot." Thomas entered a quiet room and saw Sophie curled up in bed. He slipped in beside her.
She stirred. "Hey, you." "Hey," Thomas whispered. "I'm cold." He wrapped her in his arms. "Better?"
She smiled, head tilted. "Yeah… it is." They fell asleep together, peacefully.
Back in the kitchen, Luke asked, "Albert, can I get another plate?" "Certainly, Mr. Luke." As Albert served, he asked, "How was your journey?" Luke stared at the plate. "My teacher is gone."
Albert paused. "I'm sorry, Mr. Luke." Luke nodded. "He'd want us to keep going. To finish what they started."
Albert raised his glass. "That's a noble mindset." Just then, a massive yawn echoed from the hallway. Light stumbled in, disheveled.
"Morning," he grunted. "Albert, coffee?"
Albert poured. "Yes, sir." Light looked at Luke. "Morning, hero."
Luke nodded. "Morning. What's your next move?"
Light sipped. "I have no plans. I was exiled by my own family. I don't care about mortals but I do care about the fall of that dark empire."
Luke replied, cutting his waffle, "Enemy of my enemy is my friend." "Thank you for not killing me," Light said.
Luke smirked. "Just know if you get out of line, I won't hesitate." "Understood." Ice walked in, clean and geared up. Albert gestured. "Mr. Ice, please have a seat."
Ice sat, staring at the food. "Feels like a dream." Luke laughed. "I know, right? Enjoy."
They savored every bite. It was their first real meal in years no beans, no scraps, no rationing. Just warmth. Meals that they took for granted in the old world.
Then Riot and Stuart burst in. "Breakfast!" Albert served them plates. They devoured them without breathing.
"Can we get more?" they asked. Albert served again. Same result.
Light chuckled. "Heroes… you know what you're lacking?" Ice raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"Numbers. You don't expect to fight millions of demons with just six people." Luke and Ice exchanged glances.
"Do you have a solution?" Luke asked. "I know of villages. Survivors. Scattered, but real. You could assemble a few thousand." Light said.
Luke blinked. "Thousands?" "Albert, take them to the village on the outskirts."
Albert removed his apron. "It would be my honor." Luke and Ice stood. "Let's go." Light watched the boys devour food and muttered, "Was I like that as a kid?"
They drove through the ruins to a village built from wood and debris. At the gate, a guardsman with an AK-47 stepped forward.
"We're not taking refugees." The security guard said. Albert replied, "We're not refugees. We're ambassadors."
"Ambassadors of what?" The security guard said suspiciously, Albert replied in one world, "Humanity."
The guard hesitated, then led them to a hut. A large, bald man with a thick beard stepped out. "Can I help you?"
Albert gestured. "These are Luke and Ice. Heroes who want to unite and fight back." The man scoffed. "Fight for a cause that'll get my people killed? No thanks."
He turned to leave.
"Wait," Luke said. The man turned. "What?"
Luke stepped forward. "If we're afraid of death… what's the point of living?"The bald man replied "I'd rather live a year than a week."
"We can't keep running. We have to face our demons." Luke said.
A crowd gathered, listening. "Will you be responsible for their deaths?" the man asked.
Luke looked around. "I can't promise survival. But I'd rather die trying to save humanity than watch it burn."
Silence.
The man studied Luke. "Are you the ones who freed New Eden?" Luke nodded. "Me and my brother Thomas."
"Do you think we have a chance?" Luke locked eyes. "Yes. Not just me a few of us believe." Ice and Albert stood firm behind him.
The man smiled. "Then I hope you have a good plan. I'm in." He gripped Luke's forearm. The crowd erupted in cheers.